Primary Patency of Drug-Coated Balloon versus Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Dysfunctional AVF

Introduction: Arterio-venous fistula is the vascular access of choice for dialysis patients. This study aims to compare the primary patency of drug-coated balloons to plain balloon angioplasty and the restenosis rates in dialysis AVFs.

Method(s): This retrospective study included 161 patients who underwent AVF angioplasty for an intervention native AVF between January 2012 to January 2022. All patients are >18 years of age and have a primary intervention with either DCB or plain balloon angioplasty and a follow-up. Patients with central venous stenosis, thrombosed fistula, fistula stents, AV graft, or those that had a surgical intervention after the first angioplasty were excluded. For DCB, we used In-PACT, and Lutonix.

Result(s): AVF angioplasty was done in 28 patients using DCB and in 133 patients using PTA. The mean age was 68 years (23–99) and male patients were 39%. The majority of fistulas were brachiocephalic (75%), followed by brachiobasilic (17%) and radiocephalic (8%). The mean time to re-intervention was 475 days.

Conclusion(s): DCB angioplasty did not significantly decrease the time to re-intervention compared with conventional angioplasty in the treatment of dysfunctional arteriovenous fistulas.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023